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LITTLETON, Colo. - The Mountain West Conference released its men's basketball preseason media poll and all-conference team today at the league's media day being held at the The Mtn. studios in Littleton, Colo.

Conference media selected defending regular-season champion BYU to
repeat as the Mountain West Conference men's basketball champion,
marking the second time the Cougars have been picked to win the crown.
Five teams earned at least one first-place vote, with BYU capturing 15
of 22 first-place votes and 181 points for the top spot in the poll.
2007 MWC Tournament champion UNLV (146 points) and Utah (142 points)
each earned two first-place votes to finish second and third,
respectively, while New Mexico garnered two first-place votes and 128
points to tie for fourth with San Diego State, who received one
first-place vote and 128 points. Wyoming collected 120 points to
finish sixth, followed by TCU in seventh with 58 points. Air Force
was chosen eighth with 54 points, while Colorado State rounded out the
poll in ninth place with 33 points.

BYU and UNLV earned NCAA Tournament berths last season, while Air
Force and San Diego State were NIT participants. The Cougars captured
the regular-season Mountain West title with a 13-3 mark and received
an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament following a runner-up finish in
the MWC Tournament. UNLV posted a second-place finish in
regular-season play (12-4) and became the second Mountain West team in
three years to advance to the Sweet 16, earning the league's automatic
bid to the NCAA Tournament after capturing the MWC Tournament crown.

Overall, the MWC has had 18 NCAA Tournament appearances the past eight
years. Since 2003, all nine MWC teams have participated in postseason
play at least once.

Five institutions were represented on the preseason all-MWC team.
Wyoming's Brandon Ewing was named the Top Returning Player,
while San Diego State's Ryan Amoroso garnered Top Newcomer
accolades. BYU's Jimmer Fredette received Top Freshman kudos. One senior and four juniors
make up this year's preseason all-MWC team.

Top Returning Player Brandon Ewing (6-2, 190, Jr., G, Wyoming) - Named second-team
all-MWC in 2006-07. Also named first-team all-District VIII by USBWA
and second-team all-District 13 by NABC. Led MWC and ranked 28th
nationally in scoring (19.9 ppg) last season. First Wyoming player in
school history to reach 1,000-point career milestone before end of
sophomore year.

Trent Plaisted (6-11, 245, Jr., F/C, BYU) - Two-time all-MWC
second-team honoree. Was the Cougars' top shot-blocker (1.4 bpg) and
second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.2 rpg) last season.
Scored in double figures 21 times while posting three double-doubles
in 2006-07. Also named to the 2007 MWC All-Tournament team. Earned
Freshman All-America Second Team honors and MWC Freshman of the Year
accolades in 2005-06.

J.R. Giddens (6-5, 205, Sr., G, New Mexico) - Honorable mention
all-MWC in 2006-07. Recorded three double-doubles while leading the
team and ranking seventh in the MWC in scoring (15.8 ppg) last season.
Was the Lobos' second-leading rebounder (6.5 rpg) in 2006-07.

Wink Adams (6-0, 190, Jr., G, UNLV) - Second-team all-MWC
selection last season. Team's second-leading scorer in 2006-07 (13.9
ppg), reaching the 20-point plateau on five occasions. Was the only
Runnin' Rebel to start all 37 games last season, scoring in double
figures in 27 of those contests.

Top NewcomerRyan Amoroso (6-8, 257, Jr., F, San Diego State) - Sat out the
2006-07 season after transferring to San Diego State from Marquette.
Made eight starts while playing in 57 games for the Golden Eagles from
2004-06, averaging 15.1 minutes, 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Top FreshmanJimmer Fredette (6-2, 190, G, BYU) - A first-team All-State
selection in New York, closing out his high school career as the
all-time leading scorer at Glens Falls High School in Glens Fall, N.Y.
with 2,404 points. Averaged 28.8 points per game while making 81
three-pointers and shooting 92 percent from the free throw line as a
senior.